Methods for identifying and targeting autonomic brain regions

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods for identifying and targeting autonomic and autonomic-related brain regions. In one embodiment, a method of identifying a brain region in a patient comprises administering to the patient a targeting agent that activates or inhibits a brain region and imaging the brain region.

1. A method of identifying a brain region in a patient comprising:
 administering to the patient an effective amount of at least one first targeting agent that binds a target in a first brain region; 
 imaging the first brain region thereby creating a first brain image; 
 wherein the first brain region is the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus; 
 administering to the patient an effective amount of a second targeting agent that activates or decreases an activity of one of a first and second brain region; 
 imaging the second brain region to create a second brain image; and 
 identifying the second brain region by fusing the first brain image and the second brain image, 
 wherein the target is the MC3 receptor and the first targeting agent is [D-Trp8]-g-MSH and the second targeting agent is PG901. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first brain region is a sub-set of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the sub-set of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus is at least one of the dorsomedial portion and ventrolateral portion. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first targeting agent activates or decreases an activity of the first brain region. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging step is performed using at least one functional imaging technique and at least one anatomical imaging technique. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the functional imaging technique is either functional magnetic resonance or positron emission tomography. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6  wherein the data from the imaging is analyzed using Temporal Cluster Analysis (CTA). 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the anatomical imaging technique is either magnetic resonance or CT scan. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of fine-tuning the identification of the first brain region, wherein the step of fine-tuning comprises monitoring at least one of oxygen consumption, energy expenditure, carbon dioxide production or respiratory quotient. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second brain region is the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second brain region is a sub-set of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sub-set of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus is at least one of the dorsomedial portion and the ventrolateral portion. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of fine-tuning the identification of the second brain region, wherein the step of fine-tuning comprises monitoring at least one of oxygen consumption, energy expenditure, carbon dioxide production or respiratory quotient. 
     
     
       14. A method of identifying a brain region in a patient comprising:
 administering to the patient an effective amount of at least one first targeting agent that binds a target in a first brain region; 
 imaging the first brain region thereby creating a first brain image, wherein the first brain region is the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus; 
 administering to the patient an effective amount of a second targeting agent that activates or inhibits an activity of one of a first and second brain region; 
 imaging the second brain region to create a second brain image; and 
 identifying the second brain region by fusing the first brain image and the second brain image, 
 wherein the target is the MC4 receptor and the first targeting agent is RY764 and the second targeting agent is MCLO129. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first brain region is a sub-set of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the sub-set of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus is at least one of the dorsomedial portion and ventrolateral portion. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first targeting agent activates or inhibits an activity of the first brain region. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the imaging step is performed using at least one functional imaging technique and at least one anatomical imaging technique. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the functional imaging technique is either functional magnetic resonance or positron emission tomography. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19  wherein the data from the imaging is analyzed using Temporal Cluster Analysis (CTA). 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the anatomical imaging technique is either magnetic resonance or CT scan. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising a step of fine-tuning the identification of the first brain region, wherein the step of fine-tuning comprises monitoring at least one of oxygen consumption, energy expenditure, carbon dioxide production or respiratory quotient. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second brain region is the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23 , wherein the second brain region is a sub-set of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 24 , wherein the sub-set of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus is at least one of the dorsomedial portion and the ventrolateral portion. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising a step of fine-tuning the identification of the second brain region, wherein the step of fine-tuning comprises monitoring at least one of oxygen consumption, energy expenditure, carbon dioxide production or respiratory quotient.